The Lions used a 2nd round pick on Mikel Leshoure in the 2011 NFL Draft, hoping he’d help shore up a running game that had been struggling for years. To their misfortune, however, Leshoure tore his Achilles before he could ever get onto the field and missed the entirety of his rookie season. He’s close to healthy now, participating in positional drills at Lions’ minicamp, but he will have to wait 2 more games to make his NFL debut.

The NFL handed down punishment today for Leshoure’s two offseason arrests for marijuana possession, giving him a 2 game suspension, which is actually pretty lenient. Leshoure may have gotten himself out of a larger suspension by enrolling in the league’s substance abuse program and routinely passing drug tests since his 2nd arrest. Leshoure will, barring further injury, be on the field for 14 games this season, which will go a long way towards helping the Lions run the football. A healthy Jahvid Best would also help. If the Lions can figure something out on the ground, their already explosive, but one dimensional, offense will be that much tougher to stop.